8 The Mahseer. Chapt. ii. 



more of them, which you may also do, but that each individual 

 Mahseer makes a better fight than a sahuon of the same size. I am 

 prepared to expect that on this point, as on most others not capable 

 of being proved to demonstration, some 'will disagree with me. 

 Qtwt homines tot sentential. For my own part I can only say that 

 my prejudices were all in favour of the salmon, both as being a 

 salmon, a sort of lion of the waters, whom I had grown up looking 

 on with respect from my childhood, and as being a fellow-country- 

 man. But the Mahseer compelled me to believe in and honour 

 him in spite of my prejudgment to the contrary. I came to the 

 conclusion that though he might not make so long a fight of it as 

 a salmon, he yet made a much more difficult one, because his 

 attack was more impetuously vehement, Ids first rush more 

 violent, all his energies being concentrated in making it effective, 

 though his efforts were not, and from that very cause, could not be, 

 so long sustained. Trying to account for this I had the curiosity 

 to measure and compare the size of his tad and fins with that of 

 his body, and I found that the superficial area of Ins propelling 

 and directing power amounted together to as much as the 

 superficial area of the whole of the rest of his body. The 

 proportion which the tail and tins of a salmon bear to the rest 

 of Ins body is very much smaller. The Mahseer having then so 

 much greater means of putting on steam, and having also the 

 habit of always putting it on at once energetically and unsparingly, 

 it is readily intelligible that his first rush is a mighty one, and 

 that, that made, his strength is comparatively soon exhausted. 

 Other rushes he will make, but Ids first is the dangerous one. 

 Then it is that the final issue of the campaign is practically 

 decided. Be one too many for him then, and you may be grimly 

 satisfied that all else he can do will not avail him ; you may count 

 on making him your own. Then it is that you must wait upon 

 him diligently. If you have not got all free, the connection 

 between you and your new friend will be severed within a 

 moment of your making each other's acquaintance. If you have 

 carelessly allowed the line to get a turn round the ti]i of the rod, 

 or let any slai b near the hand become kinked ever so little, or 

 twisted over the butt, or hitched in the reel or a button, then it is 

 that not a moment's law is given you for the re-adjustment of this 

 little matter: there ie a violent tug and an immediate smash ; 



